Problems and Paradoxes of Animal Toxins and the Heart

Animal poisons induce myocardial damage after envenomation. Those capable of producing toxins in their salivary gland and delivering them through biting or stinging are referred to as venomous animals. Snakes and arthropods, such as scorpions, spiders, and hymenoptera (e.g., bee, wasp), are common worldwide and envenomation of these species causes cardiac toxicity. This chapter focuses on the cardiac complications induced by the envenomation from snakes and arthropods.